A lady never discusses her weight in public

Published: November 24, 2004 12:00 AM

By BOBBIE RANDALLRecord ColumnistBardi lived across the street from me. I'm speaking of her in the past tense because she has recently passed away. This 86-year-old woman was a mentor and like a mother to me. We were friends and crocheting buddies. Our dogs remain best friends. We knew the pattern of each other's lives by which lights were on in which rooms of our respective houses. It is sad to now look across the street and know that her kitchen light will not be on between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. I appreciated just knowing that even though my life was busy, Bardi was always there to talk. When she died suddenly of a stroke, the family appreciated just knowing that even if my life is busy, I am always here to talk. Her house across the street is nearly empty now. Her death has been difficult to adjust to for all who loved her. A granddaughter is living there and she takes care of Kenny-dog and Calico-cat. My dog, Molly, still goes across the street to visit with Kenny. Kenny misses his Mom; Molly is a true Canine Therapy Companion to her dear old doggie friend. While retrieving Molly one day, the granddaughter asked me what to do with Bardi's shoes and clothes. I volunteered to transport them to the Career Clothing Program at our church. A group of ladies provides career clothing to women just entering the work force who may not be able to afford a new wardrobe. The granddaughter agreed and I piled five large boxes of clothes and shoes into my vehicle.Before donating these items, I looked through each box. As I refolded her shirts and slacks, I remembered seeing her in each outfit. I hugged the hand-knit suits and Bardi's colorful shoes. I miss seeing her wear all of her lovely clothes. She always dressed as a true lady; everything matched.I noticed that many of the items of clothing were old. They were in good repair but Bardi had had them for a long time. She had a few newer items but they were the same size as the older things. Bardi stayed the same healthy weight for many years. In memory of my dear friend, Bardi, I have a holiday nutrition fact that I want to pass along to my readers. How much weight you gain over the holidays depends upon your starting point. Research shows that people at a healthy weight put on just under a pound between Thanksgiving and New Years. The same study revealed that those who were already overweight add an average of five pounds during the holidays. Unfortunately, researchers discovered that this extra weight often is not shed by the spring. So it is five pounds this year and five more the next, and so on until last year's holiday clothes do not fit anymore. Looking through Bardi's boxes of clothing I realized that she had stopped gaining weight. Her weight remained relatively stable for years. I suspect that this decreased her risk of any obesity-related health complications and allowed her to live to 86 years old in spite of three open-heart surgeries in the past 20 years.She liked sweets and her chocolate ice cream. She often shared a peanut butter sandwich with Kenny for supper. When we went out to eat, she never overate. It was standard for her to take leftovers home for another meal. Without even realizing it, Bardi stopped gaining weight. She never had to buy bigger clothes. Her wardrobe purchases were pleasure driven as opposed to necessity driven. When she worked for weeks on a new hand-knit suit, she expected to wear it forever. And that's what she did.Take the lead from Bardi, simply keep the bathroom scale stable through the holiday season, to make sure that what you weigh on New Year's Day is no more than what you weigh today. If you can accomplish that, you will have escaped unscathed from the holiday season, which is most likely to add pounds and cause you to buy bigger clothes.Bardi was one of my most devoted readers. I know that if she could send a message from heaven, she would wish all of you a blessed holiday season. She would be embarrassed that I wrote a column for the entire town to read about her weight but I recognize a great opportunity when I see it. Thank you for all the years of friendship, I miss you, Bardi. Bobbie Randall is a registered, licensed dietitian with many years as a community nutrition educator, as well as long term care experience. You can contact her at brandall@buehlers.com